“What should we buy… and what should we eat?” This is increasingly becoming the question on the lips of the common man. With the prices of essential commodities rising day by day, household budgets are being thrown out of gear. From vegetables to rice, sugar, cooking oil and pulses, the sharp increase in prices is putting immense pressure on kitchen expenses.
On one hand, incomes are not increasing at the same pace. On the other, the prices of essential commodities continue to rise. This has raised questions over whether the common man under the coalition government is being left with nothing but the burden of rising prices and declining purchasing power.
Essential Commodity Prices
The extent of the price rise becomes clear from the latest figures. Compared with April 2026, the prices of several essential commodities have increased significantly by August.
- Onions: Increased from ₹20 per kg to ₹55.
- Rice: Increased from ₹55 per kg to ₹69.
- Sugar: Rose from ₹46 per kg to ₹71.
- Cooking oil: Increased from ₹62 per kg to ₹88.
- Vegetables: Increased from ₹166 to ₹187.
- Turmeric and other essential commodities: Increased from ₹177 to ₹188.
- Palmolein: Increased from ₹149 to ₹165.
- Toor dal: Increased from ₹135 to ₹160.
These are not merely numbers seen in the market. They represent the additional amount that ordinary families are being forced to spend from their pockets every day.
Onion Prices Nearly Triple, Sugar Sees a Major Shock
The price of onions, which stood at ₹20 per kg in April, reached ₹55 by August. In just a few months, the price has nearly tripled. During the same period, sugar prices climbed from ₹46 to ₹71 per kg.
Cooking oil has also become significantly more expensive, rising from ₹62 to ₹88 per kg. Since cooking oil is a daily household necessity, the increase directly affects monthly kitchen budgets.
Rice, the primary staple food for millions of families, has risen from ₹55 to ₹69 per kg. The increase in toor dal prices from ₹135 to ₹160 has added another burden, particularly for poor and middle-class households.
A New Burden Every Day, A New Calculation Every Month
With festivals approaching, household expenses are expected to rise further. Families traditionally prepare special dishes and sweets during the festive season, but rising prices are making even basic purchases increasingly difficult.
A family may somehow manage when the price of one commodity increases. But when the prices of rice, pulses, cooking oil, sugar, onions and vegetables all rise together, maintaining the monthly household budget becomes a major challenge.
The combination of already elevated prices and increasing festival-related expenses could force many families to cut back on essential purchases and postpone other needs.
Common Man’s Anger Over Rising Essential Prices
The continuous rise in prices is weakening the purchasing power of ordinary households. As a larger share of monthly income is spent on basic necessities, families are increasingly being forced to postpone or reduce spending on other requirements.
The issue therefore goes beyond individual commodity prices. The bigger question is whether ordinary families are able to manage their daily lives comfortably.
For governments, ensuring that essential commodities remain reasonably affordable is a key responsibility. Stronger market monitoring, improved supply chains and effective measures against artificial shortages and unjustified price increases are crucial to protecting consumers.
Relief in Statements, But Price Pressure in the Market?
When rising prices place a burden on the public, governments need to look beyond announcements and address the situation on the ground.
If a family’s monthly budget is not getting any relief, questions naturally arise over how much the benefits of development are actually reaching the common household.
The increase in essential commodity prices between April and August highlights the growing pressure on family budgets. As prices continue to rise while incomes remain largely unchanged, ordinary households are ultimately forced to bear the burden.
Who Will Answer for the Rising Cost of the Common Man’s Kitchen?
From onions to pulses, from rice to cooking oil, the common man is facing rising prices across the board.
The increase in onion prices from ₹20 to ₹55 per kg, sugar from ₹46 to ₹71, cooking oil from ₹62 to ₹88 and toor dal from ₹135 to ₹160 illustrates the pressure being felt by households.
Where is the relief that people expect from the coalition government? When the common man asks, “What should we buy… and what should we eat?”, it is the responsibility of those in power to address that concern.
Reducing the burden on household kitchens and ensuring that essential commodities remain affordable is now one of the government’s biggest tests. For ordinary families, the real measure of governance is not just development on paper, but whether they can afford to run their kitchens without constantly worrying about rising prices.
